Jefferson Squat
by Scott Bird
August 4, 2006
3 comments
share it: digg | stumbleupon | del.icio.us
Bud’s recent post To Squat or Not to Squat got me thinking about some of the lesser-known varieties of squat, and a brief conversation with my dad on Bruce Lee pointed us both in the direction [1] of the Jefferson - or Straddle - Squat.
This is little more than a variation on the usual Jefferson Lift (itself a reasonably uncommon exercise), and begins in the same manner. The difference : after the bar is lifted to the highest point possible (without causing yourself injury - try it and you’ll see what I mean), bend the legs and squat down about 10cm/4” and return to the top. Overall it shifts the emphasis slightly toward the thighs from the usual low back work.
Another consideration is that grip strength plays quite a large role in this exercise; perhaps even moreso than in a conventional deadlift.
1. Bruce Lee - The Art of Expressing the Human Body (p120)
Ready to bend some steel? Grab a copy of the Diesel Crew's Bending eBook. Superb.
Comments
I certainly appreciate the thought, but I’m not sure a squat, alternatively referred to as the nut crusher is for me. I think it is good to come up with alternatives though as the basic squat movement is quite difficult.
Posted by: Bud Gibson | August 7, 2006 11:04 AM
No problem (although it’s still a fun one to try out sometime) - plenty more squat variations and alternatives coming up.
Posted by: Scott | August 7, 2006 6:51 PM
The Squat Strap is not only a ‘back friendly’ alternative to squats, it’s better then squats.
http://www.squatstrap.com/
Posted by: Angelo Bonavera | September 22, 2007 10:38 AM